Should you still salute a dead magpie?

[feezap]

Or does it cancel out the negating if the bad luck?

And do you stop at the first one of the day (one for sorrow, two for joy etc) or salute every one you see on its own and then each group.

This has been troubling me for some time and seeing a dead one the other day just added to my confusion.

As a child I didn't salute one. Then I needed a wee and my parents stopped the car at a picnic area so I could go in the woods (dont know why they didn't find a toilet). I weed all over my knickers and declared 'I should have saluted that magpie!'. My sister has never let me forget this and I have been wary of the evil black and white buggers ever since.

Please help!

Wouldn't have thought so. No point asking "How is your lady wife?" if it's dead.

Your luck changes depending on how many single/groups you see in a day.

Well I have never saluted a magpie, or whatever it is you're supposed to do.

It makes these dilemmas non existent

Never salute, however always say 'morning Mr Magpie' definitely NOT if the bugger's dead.
I count them throughout the day.
However I also encourage magpie murder. (According to my father they had armour plated nests, which required both barrels)

Neme - whereabouts are you living? I only ask as I have never heard about asking the magpie "How is your lady wife" - we always said "Good Morning fine bird"!!!

North, marmalade. I think it must be to acknowledge that seeing two is better than one. Kind of comforting yourself that the other magpie is around somewhere.

Oh no! I had forgotten about having to say 'good morning Mr magpie' now I am more confused than ever!

Neme, I like the thinking behind the lady wife thing. How does your luck change with the numbers, is it like the rhyme?

I am glad to see people understand just how evil these birds are, a friend of mine once had one that would perch on her windowsill every day and just stare at her for hours